Home > Babies and Toddlers > Adoption > Preparing for Adoption > Famous Adoptees or Adopters

Slideshow Iconslideshows MORE

|

Famous Adoptees or Adopters

Previous
2 of 14
josephinebaker
Next

Josephine Baker, African-American dancer and singer (1906–1975)

Although Baker gained fame as a performer, she devoted a significant part of her life to the civil-rights movement and fighting racism. In fact, she adopted 12 multiethnic orphans. She referred to her large family as the "Rainbow Tribe."

Born in St. Louis, Josephine Baker was a star in Paris for most of her adult life. She left her home in Missouri and began performing in her early teens. She appeared in the chorus lines of all-black revues on New York vaudeville stages, then traveled to Paris in 1925 as part of La Revue Negre. Her lithe body and frank sensuality, combined with her jovial clowning on stage, caused a sensation. She was so successful in Paris that she stayed and opened her own nightclub there, Chez Josephine. Source: Who2

Fun Fact: Baker bought a castle in the Bordeaux region of France where she lived with her children while they grew up.

Photo source: Rudolf Suroch

Next: George Washington Carver, American agricultural chemist (1864-1943)

More on: Adoption

Infoplease

Provided by Infoplease—an authoritative, comprehensive reference website that offers an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas, and several almanacs. Visit Infoplease.com to find more resources endorsed by teachers and librarians.

you might also like:

from our community:

what’s hot

  1. Top 10 End-of-the-Year Gifts for Teachers
  2. Great Gift Ideas for Dad's First Father's Day
  3. Father's Day Crafts Kids Can Make
  4. VIEW ALL

stay connected

Sign up for our free email newsletters and receive the latest advice and information on all things parenting.

Enter your email address to sign up or manage your account.

Facebook icon Twitter icon Follow Us on Pinterest

editor’s picks

highlights

10 Ways to Deal with Temper Tantrums
Temper tantrums are an inevitable part of being parent. Read on for 10 sanity-saving tantrum tips to help calm your child when he's in the throes of emotional turmoil.

8 Printable Thank-You Cards for Your Child's Teacher
Teaching is no walk in the park! Print any of these free printable thank-you cards for teachers to salute your favorite educators for all the hard work this school year.

Explore Funbrain Jr. with Your Preschooler
Looking for fun online games, adorable stories, and cool printables for preschoolers and kindergartners? Check out the new Funbrain Jr., a fun place to learn for children ages 2 to 6.

Award-Winning Apps for Kids of All Ages
Looking for high quality apps for your toddler, preschooler, or school-age child? These 16 award-winning educational apps help kids of all ages learn a thing or two during tech time.

Summer Learning: 11 Everyday Ways to Learn Math
Summertime is a great time to teach your child how math plays a part in his everyday life. These 11 everyday ways to learn math are fun and educational, and will help him see how this subject plays into real life.